Damn snow - cold horse- best way to warm up??

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WelshRareBit

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Yup we've got snow. Murph was turned out with his 300G rug and an under rug. This morning I get there and feed him and he's shivering, rug is wet round the edges (this is normal) his armpits feel warm and his ears are giving off a bit of warmth - but Im worried about the shaking..
Problem is his other rug managed to get bloody wet as the snow got in the barn...

Whats the best way to get him warm again? He is currently in the paddock with hay, could I use a blanket from the house under his normal rug to warm him up?

oh yes and how to get out snow from his feet - i couldnt do it with hoofpick!!

Jen xx
 
Have you got access to an indoor school? Get him moving even if it is walking around the field a few times.

Is there plenty of hay as that is "horse central heating"?

Give him a warmed feed?

Just a few thought that I have off the top of my head.
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Don't worry too much about the shivering. It is natures way of warming him back up again.
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Just check he is still bright and happy in himself that is the most important factor.

If he is looking low and listless then he might not be feeling too good and you will have to have a rethink.

I am sure all is well he has just got a bit chilly
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If you've got somewhere to lunge him then a run around should warm him up, but don't get him sweaty or he'll be even colder when he stops moving.

I'd be wary of putting a normal blanket under his rug if he's outside because if it lips & gets wet he'll be even colder. If you can't bring him in or borrow another rug from someone then I'd say your best bet is ad-lib hay put in a sheltered spot.
 
Nice hot breakfast always stops mine from shivering, will warm him up from the inside!!

A blanket or we had an old duvet we cut down once when we were caught out with wet rugs, worked a treat, and he loved it!!
 
If you cant get your hands on a blanket, try straw in between his 2 rugs , try and melt the snow in his hoove with a warm/hot cloth and then use some vaseline when you have it cleared out . Try giving him a warm bran mash with a taste of honey if hes not that keen on it .
 
I wouldn't be to worried about shivering, It's when there not shivering you need to worry. Shivering is the bodies way keeping warm. Few Ideas. At college they put blankets as under rugs. Idealy one that comes to his ears fold the end corners in to make a point then fold the point over his back and use a roller/surcingle to keep in place. Straw is another good way to keep him warm. Adding hot water to his feed helps. Plenty of ad-lib hay as eating will warm his core body up. If he isn't stod then his feed will be four heaters. Always a good idea to take his temperture should be 37.
 
If you let him grow his natural winter coat, he wouldn't get cold, although that's not much help to you today !
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(sorry...:) )

see http://www.alwena.com/4feet/ianto/Ianto2_win05.jpg

It's an example of the snow laying unmelted on the horses back due to the excellent insulation properties of their winter coats !

We work our horses with their shaggy coats, and they don't normally get too sweaty with a good quality saddle cloth. Quite often they are almost dry when we un-tack after walking them back down the hill which would be after a 3 hour hack.

cheers !
 
For a quick fix you could try chucking on some blankets under his rug, just dont leave them on all night or they might slip. And make sure he's got loads of hay (like someones said), and maybe warm his feed up a bit! For getting really frozen chunks out of the hooves we've had to pour warm (NOT hot!) water to on feet to melt it before.
 
Hay, hay and more hay! My poor horse is buried under a mountain of hay at the moment, and to my surprise she ate tons of it last night (expected at least a section left out of about half a bale that I fed her, but all gone apart from sweepings this morning!). With regard to rugs I find my horse warms up quickest with a fluffy fleece on underneath, traps the air and all that.
 
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Thatch him with straw under his rug, then massage his ears until they are warm - I know it sounds weird but a horse with warm ears feels warm inside!

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Yep that's exactly what I would too for a quick warm up too.
 
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